Holidays

[Shea]

Has anybody read this verse in relation to todays holiday (or any holiday)?

Galatians 4:9-11

But now that you know God--or rather are known by God--how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? 10You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! 11I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.

Does anyone realize that Easter started as a pagan holiday to the Babylonian dawn goddess Eastre? Growing up as a catholic, I also went to the stations of the cross during the days before Easter. Yesterday, out of curiosity, I look at the gospels for the stations that I remembered. No where did I find where Jesus fell or a woman wiped his face with a cloth and his image was left on it. And finally, no where in the Bible at all is it commanded of us to observe these things in such a way!

During winter Holidays, I give gifts, I sing secular carols, and I'll decorate the house with the winter garb, just as I decorate with spring garb in the springtime. Or even shoot off fireworks for the fourth of July. But in no way do I celebrate these holidays with a "religious" attitude because it is not commanded of me by God's word.

Just my imput on Holidays. ;)

[imthefoolonthehill]

*gives shea her soapbox, respectfully apathetic*

[Blackadder]

The Catholic Church has had a long history of adopting pagan holidays and symbols, etc. The Roman Empire did the same thing when they would conquer a new territory. Because of the archetypal nature of a lot of dieties, it's not that hard to rename gods.

I've been reading a series of books that look at that policy in action: Dan Brown's Angels and Demons and The Da Vinci Code. It's interesting reading.

[Shea]

Thanks for the references! You might try researching people like Augustine and Origen if your interested in studing the origins of Holidays. They were a couple of the founders of many Catholic practices.

(just an addition to my facts-only soapbox) ;)

[Blackadder]

I have a hard time reading Augustine and the other church fathers, like Tertulian (sp?). I've read parts of Augustine's Confessions and I've peeked at City of God, but that's about it. (It was required reading.)

And I don't think I would go to them for information like this, because they are about the most biased sources you could find on Chrisitianity. That's the problem with reading older 'histories.' A lot of them wouldn't fly today because they violate all sorts of rules of establishing veracity and authority. Even today, you have to be aware of the author's slant on things. It just gets worse the farther back you go.

But who is Origen?

[BibleGuy]

And now that Easter 2003 has so quickly passed albeit Christianity's observance of Eastertide (which is also prescribed for in the Bible), I find myself strangely inspired to work on the subject of holidays; also, I am the owner of a Yahoo Group (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/holidaysinthenewmillennium) which of course is in desperate need of new members.

May we all find solace in the Lord no matter what happens... :)

[Shea]

And now that Easter 2003 has so quickly passed albeit Christianity's observance of Eastertide (which is also prescribed for in the Bible), I find myself strangely inspired to work on the subject of holidays; also, I am the owner of a Yahoo Group (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/holidaysinthenewmillennium) which of course is in desperate need of new members.

May we all find solace in the Lord no matter what happens... :)

Where is the observance of "Eastertide" prescribed for in the Bible? Other than an observance of the Lord's supper and his sacrifice that we are commanded to do every Sunday, I don't recall such a thing.

[Theshizznigg]

Shea, I am a Britain, and despite myself and my Christianity I still observe and have respect for our holiday, paganist ties, because its part of who we are.
I burn a guy fawkes every year, everytime I kill something I wipe its blood on my forehead, I enjoy dancing around the maypole, and the muhmers dances, and find our old histories and religions to be fascinating.

The reason that Christianity grew in Britain so much is because the priest were all embracing, they showed the people the truth of God and converted them, but didn't demand that they immediately throw off all traditions.
You'd never convert anyone by that method, becuase you'd be cramming the word down their throats.

Needless to say, I observe the holidays, traditions, because I choose to, not because it has enslaved me.
I can miss a perfectly good holiday and be contented that I didn't participate.
Becuase I don't consider many of the holidays by their old pagan form, but choose to do because it is a cultural reconnection with our great and bloodied past.
Take Care, Shizz.